Appendage wallet

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of an appendage wallet having a variety of configurations to contain papers, currency, and small devices that are readably attachable and detachable from a region of a body appendage hidden beneath body clothing. Embodiments include vapor-blocking layers interposed between leather and other multi-layered constructions configured to restrict water vapor reaching wallet compartments storing currency, important documents, or water sensitive devices.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference intheir entirety U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 61/101,088 filedSep. 29, 2008, 61/104,109 filed Oct. 10, 2008, and 61/107,271 filed Oct.21, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention pertain to concealable wallets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pocket carrying wallets can be easily dislodged from a pants pocket oreasily seen as a target for pickpockets. Wallets having a design toprevent dislodging and to discourage theft have advantages over pocketcarrying wallets.

SUMMARY OF THE PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

An appendage wallet that is concealable is described. The appendagewallet includes a variety of configurations to contain papers, currency,and small devices and is readably attachable and detachable from aregion of a body appendage hidden beneath body clothing. Other appendagewallet may be readably detachable and concealable within internalsurfaces of clothing modified to have a complementary detachableadhesive pad sewn or other secured to the internal clothing surfaces,for example an adhesive pad sewn to the inside of the back of a coat,within the internal side of a pant's leg, or within the internal side ofa shirt' back.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The file of this patent contains at least one drawing executed in color.Copies of this patent with color drawing(s) will be provided by thePatent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessaryfee. Embodiments for the various embodiments of a concealable walletdescribed below.

FIG. 1 depicts a concealable wallet 10 located beneath the knee andlower leg muscle;

FIG. 2 depicts the concealable wallet 10 located at alternate locationsof a user's leg;

FIGS. 3A-E illustrate top, bottom, and perspective views of theconcealable wallet 10;

FIGS. 4A-C illustrate alternate embodiments of concealable wallets10A-10C;

FIGS. 5A-E illustrate other alternate embodiments 10D-10G of concealablewallets;

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate concealable wallet 10H configured toprovide stretching or expandable dimensions to accommodate differentlimb circumferences and hold larger objects;

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate alternate embodiments 10I and 10J concealablewallets;

FIGS. 8A-E illustrate alternate embodiments of concealable wallets10K-10N fitted with badges, insignia, and ornamentation objects;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional schematic of the concealable,appendage wallet 10B illustrated in FIG. 4B;

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a coat 200 equipped with a loopfastener patch 204 sewn on the inside of the coat 200 for detachablymounting a concealable wallet 10I;

FIG. 11 illustrates the concealable wallet 10I engaged and secured withthe loop fastener pate 204 via the hook fastener patch 24 of theconcealable wallet 10I;

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the coat 200 equipped with a hookfastener patch 208 sewn on the inside of the coat 200 for detachablymounting a concealable wallet 10I;

FIG. 13 illustrates the concealable wallet 10I engaged and secured withthe hook fastener pate 208 via the loop fastener patch 34 of theconcealable wallet 10I; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional illustration of an alternate embodiment ofan appendage wallet 10P having a credit card or other compartmentbeneath a fastener pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

Described below are embodiments of an appendage wallet that isremoveably attachable to a portion of a body appendage and substantiallyconcealable when worn underneath non-transparent clothing havingsubstantial coverage. The appendage or concealable wallet includes aplurality of configurations to contain papers, currency, and smalldevices that is readably attachable and detachable from a region of abody appendage hidden beneath body clothing. The embodiments of theconcealable wallet include a variety of configurations to containpapers, currency, and small devices that is readably attachable anddetachable in a wraparound fashion from the region of a body appendagehidden, including beneath the knee and lower leg muscle, above the kneeand thigh muscle, and around the ankle. Embodiments include vaporblocking leather and other multi-layered constructions configured torestrict water vapor from reaching wallet compartments storing currency,important documents, or water sensitive devices. Other embodimentsinclude leather or other material layers having hole cutouts thatpromote or impart stretchability or elasticity to the wraparoundconcealable wallets.

Embodiments also include an appendage wallet having a variety ofconfigurations to contain papers, currency, and small devices that arereadably attachable and detachable from a region of a body appendagehidden beneath body clothing. Embodiments include vapor-blocking layersinterposed between leather and other multi-layered constructionsconfigured to restrict water vapor reaching wallet compartments storingcurrency, important documents, or water sensitive devices.

Embodiments described a concealable wallet engageable with a bodyappendage having a substantially flexible and rectangular materialhaving a first fastener located on a first surface of a first width endand a second fastener located on a second surface of a second width end,the first surface opposite the second surface. The appendage orconcealable wallet also includes at least one compartment adjacent tothe first fastener, wherein the first fastener engages with the secondfastener to wrap the substantially rectangular material in a partialspiral around the body appendage. For example, the appendage walletwraps around the thigh region above the knee, wraps around just belowthe knee and between the leg calf muscles, or alternatively, may wraparound in at least a partial spiral around the ankle. Alternatively, theappendage wallet may wrap around an upper arm or a forearm. In alternateembodiments, the first fastener may include a hook fastener and thesecond fastener may include a loop fastener. When the upper leg, lowerleg, ankle, upper arm or forearm partial spiral wrapped and fastenedappendage wallet is sufficiently covered by non-transparent clothing,the appendage wallet may be considered a concealable or concealedwallet.

In alternate embodiments, the at least one compartment may include aslotted compartment and a zippered compartment in a variety ofconfigurations. The slotted compartments may have slots substantiallyparallel to the long edge of the rectangular material, substantiallyperpendicular to the parallel to the long edge of the rectangularmaterial, or angles between perpendicular and parallel. The slottedcompartments may be configured to hold credit cards, keys, and devices,i.e., cellular phones. The zippered compartment may have a slotsufficiently long to receive paper currency and documents. In alternateembodiments, the flexible, rectangular configured material may beaffixed with a reinforcing flexible material or layer to which the atleast one slotted compartment may be affixed to. In yet other alternateembodiments, the reinforcing flexible material may be configured tofunction as a vapor barrier, or another layer may be interposed betweenthe at least one slotted compartment, including the zipperedcompartment, and the reinforcing material layer.

In yet other embodiments, the flexible rectangular material may beaffixed with the reinforcing flexible layer having a plurality of holesto help impart a stretchable nature or elasticity to the appendagewallet. The materials of the flexible rectangular layers, thereinforcing layers, and the materials used in the slotted compartmentsmay include leather. In yet other embodiments, the slotted compartmentmaterials may also include a plurality of holes, or at least one hole,to help impart flexibility and elasticity to the compartments toaccommodate more credit cards, business cards, currency, keys, devices,and documents.

Other embodiments described include a concealable wallet engageable witha body appendage having a substantially flexible and rectangularmaterial having a first fastener located on a first surface of a firstwidth end and a second fastener located on a second surface of a secondwidth end, the first surface opposite the second surface. The appendageor concealable wallet also includes at least one compartment adjacent tothe first fastener, wherein the first fastener engages with the secondfastener to wrap the substantially rectangular material in a partialspiral around the body appendage. The appendage wallet may also includean ornament affixable with the second surface, so that when wrappedaround the appendage, the first fastener engages with the secondfastener to wrap the substantially rectangular material in a partialspiral around the body appendage with the at least one compartmentinwardly disposed within the partial spiral and the ornament outwardlydisposed.

The material used in the flexible rectangular, reinforcement, and/or theslotted compartments may be colored and varied in color. The at leastone hole or plurality of holes may be cut out to reveal a differentcolored design, and the holes may be varied in size and distribution toacquire the desired elastic or aesthetic effect. The ornaments attachedmay include police or military officer insignia or emblems, decorativedesigns, or religious figures and religious images.

FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a portion of the exemplary embodiments describedabove.

FIG. 1 depicts a concealable wallet 10 located beneath the knee andlower leg muscle. Here the concealable or appendage wallet 10 remainshidden from site and firmly secured to the user's lower leg beneathnon-transparent clothing as depicted by the dashed lines.

FIG. 2 depicts the concealable wallet 10 located at alternate locationsof a user's leg. Here the concealable or appendage wallet 10 remainshidden from site and firmly secured to the user's upper leg or lower legbeneath non-transparent clothing as depicted by the dashed lines.

FIGS. 3A-E illustrate top, bottom, and perspective views of theappendage concealable wallet 10. Shown in FIGS. 3A and B, the appendagewallet 10 includes a substantially rectangular and leather exterior 30to which flexible reinforcing layer 12 is mounted or affixed on theinterior surface of leather. Slotted compartments 14 and 28 and securedto reinforcing layer 12 by stitching 15. In this embodiment 10, thecompartment 14 includes a zipped compartment 16 having zipper 18 and aslotted compartment 16, both having their respective slots substantiallyparallel to the long edge of the rectangular exterior layer 30. Thezipper compartment 16 may have a slot of sufficient length toaccommodate the lengths of paper currency. Slotted compartment 28includes a key compartment slot 26 that is substantially disposedparallel to the long axis of leather exterior 30, and a credit card orbusiness card slot 29 that is substantially disposed perpendicular tothe long axis of leather exterior 30. Adjacent to the zippered andslotted compartment 14 and affixed to the flexible reinforcing layer 12is the first fastener or hook fastener 24 that is located near the firstwidth edge of the rectangular material 30. On the opposite side of therectangular material 30 is the second fastener or loop fastener 28located near the second width edge of the rectangular material 30.

Shown in FIGS. 3C-E is the simulated sequence of wrapping around actionsof the appendage wallet 10. Shown in FIG. 3C, the slotted zippercompartment 14 is zipped closed and the hook fastener 24 is moved closerto the loop fastener 34. In FIG. 3D, a partially wound spiral isachieved with partial engagement of the hook and loop fasteners 24 and34. In FIG. 3E, a partially wound spiral with a smaller circumference isachieved pulling or stretching over the hook fastener 24 end so thatthere is more complete engagement or otherwise overlap of the hook andloop fasteners 24 and 34, thus securing a tighter fit around anappendage, either a leg or an arm.

FIGS. 4A-C illustrates alternate embodiments of appendage concealablewallets 10A-10C. In these embodiments 10A-C, the zippered compartments44, 54, and 64, each having a zippered slot 16, shown open with currencyshown partly out of the slot 6, differ by color variations, or whether acredit card compartment 48, 58, and 68, is adjacently secured bystitching 15, parallel or perpendicularly disposed to the long axis, orby the positions and colors of key compartments 50 and 68. Forembodiment 10B, a securing knob 52 is seen that holds the ornament 156shown in FIG. 8D below or other ornaments as shown in FIG. 8E below.

FIGS. 5A-E illustrate other alternate embodiments 10D-10G of appendageconcealable wallets that vary by color, slot position, and compartmentarrangement for zippered compartments 64-94, key compartments 72-92, andcredit card compartments 76-96.

FIG. 6 illustrates alternate concealable wallet 10H configured toprovide stretching or expandable dimensions to accommodate differentlimb circumferences and hold larger objects. The elasticity andstretching is conferred by the plurality of holes 112 in flexiblereinforcing material 12, and to the respective credit card compartment110, key compartment 108, device compartment 106, and zipperedcompartment 104. Concealable wallet 10H may also be fitted with theornaments shown in FIG. 8E below.

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrates alternate embodiments 10I and 10J appendageconcealable wallets having different textured and colored leathers.Compartments 114, 116, and 118 shown finished leather and compartments14, 120, 124, and 138 show a brushed leather finish. The securing knob52 is seen that holds any of the ornaments shown in FIG. 8E below.

FIGS. 8A-E illustrates alternate embodiments of concealable wallets10K-10N fitted with badges, insignia, and ornamentation objects 150,152, 154, and 156. Ornaments other than these are shown in FIG. 8E.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional schematic of the concealable wallet10B illustrated in FIG. 4B and curved in position similar to thatdepicted in FIG. 3C. To the exterior of flexible rectangular material 30is the loop fastener 34. Affixed internally or the concave side is theflexible reinforcing layer 12 to which the slotted and credit cardcompartments 54 and 58 and hook fastener 24 are affixed. The securingknob 52 punctures through the flexible layers 13 and 30 to engage withthe ornament 156.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a coat 200 equipped with a loopfastener patch 204 sewn on the inside of the coat 200 for detachablymounting a concealable wallet 10I.

FIG. 11 illustrates the concealable wallet 10I engaged and secured withthe loop fastener pate 204 via the hook fastener patch 24 of theconcealable wallet 10I. The exterior leather surface of the concealablewallet 10I is shown facing outward hanging from the inner backingmaterial of the coat 200 interior with an ornamentation object visible.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the coat 200 equipped with a hookfastener patch 208 sewn on the inside of the coat 200 for detachablymounting a concealable wallet 10I.

FIG. 13 illustrates the concealable wallet 10I engaged and secured withthe hook fastener pate 208 via the loop fastener patch 34 of theconcealable wallet 10I. The interior compartment side of the concealablewallet 10I is shown facing outward and hanging from the inner backingmaterial of the coat 200 interior with the ornamentation object hiddenfrom view.

The patches 204 and 208 may be constructed of any material that permitsthe patches 204 and 208 to function as engagement patches that rapidlyallow the detachable connection of the engagement patches by pressingthe patches firmly in contact with each other. The engagement patchesmay be made of complementary magnetic materials.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional illustration of an alternate embodiment ofan appendage wallet 10P having a credit card or other compartmentbeneath a fastener pad. Appendage wallet 10P is substantially similar tothe appendage wallet illustrated in FIG. 9, but also includes a creditcard compartment 158 sandwiched between the reinforcing layer 12 and thehook fastener 24. The credit card compartment 158 may be sewn to thereinforcing layer 12, to which the hook fastener 24 is similarly sewn tothe credit card compartment 158. This design improves the efficiency ofspace usage for arranging the number of compartments locatable in theappendage wallet 10P. Another embodiment of the appendage wallet 10Pwould include another compartment similar to the compartment 158interposed between the reinforcing layer 12 and the hook fastener 34.The compartment 158 may include at least one, or a pair of keycompartments. Also depicted in appendage wallet 10P is a vapor barrier162 interposed between the reinforcing layer 12 and zippered compartment54. Other embodiments of the appendage wallet 10P may be fitted withemblems depicted in FIGS. 8A-8E.

The appendage wallets 10A-P may be dimensioned to fit securely around aleg or an arm, with different lengths to accommodate different appendagecircumferences. For example, the length of the leather exterior 30 maybe approximately 485 mm and the width approximately 106 mm. The lengthof the reinforcing layer 12 may be approximately 477 mm and the widthapproximately 98 mm. The length of the zippered compartment 16 may varybe approximately 210 mm to 287 mm, and the width approximately 88 mm,with the zipper 18 approximately 180 mm long offset from the lengthwiseedge of the of the zippered compartment by approximately 15 mm. Thestitching 15 may be sewn at a distance from approximately 1 to 3 mm fromthe periphery of the zippered compartment 15. The credit card orbusiness card compartments similar to 48, 58, 68 may be approximatelymay also be stitched along and from their respective peripheral edgesbetween approximately 1 and 3 mm, leaving an internal space sufficientlydimensioned to receive and hold business and credit cards. The keycompartment slot 26 and the credit card slots 29 may have respectivelengths of 30 mm and 55 mm to accommodate insertion of keys andcredit/business cards. The hook and loop fastener pads 24 and 34 mayhave length and width dimensions approximating 90 mm and 48 and sewnwith stitches 15 approximately 1 and 3 mm from their pad peripheraledges to the reinforcing layer 12. The material of the exterior layer 30and reinforcing layer 12 may include leather, sheepskin, pliableplastics, or composites of pliable plastics and leather and/or sheepskin. The thickness of the exterior layer 30 and reinforcing layer 12may be approximately 2 mm, with ranges varying between approximately 1and 4mm. The holes 112 may vary in diameter from approximately 5 mm to25 mm. The length of the exterior layer 30 and reinforcing layer 12 maybe shorter or longer than 485 and 477 mm to accommodate differentappendage circumferences. Similarly, the widths of the outer layer andreinforcing layers 30 and 12 may be varied to accommodate appendagesizes or to increase the compartment storing volumes. The width of thehook and fastener pads 24 and 30 may be increased to accommodate atighter appendage wrapping having a smaller circumference so thatsufficient fastener pad to fastener pad engagement is achieved to securea good fit to the user's liking.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, many changes can be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. For example, the hook and loop fasteners maybe located in different locations, have different shapes, or switched orotherwise reversely positioned. The zipper compartment 16 may also besewn on the exterior of the outer layer 30, and the credit card orbusiness card compartments 48, 58, 68 may be adapted with zippers 18 andmay also be sewn to the exterior of the wallets 10A-P on the outer layer30, and/or mounted beneath the hook and loop fastener pads 24 and 34.The key compartments may also be secured by snaps, zippers, and mountedunderneath the hook and loop fastener pads 24 and 34. The coat 200 maybe equipped to hold more than one concealable wallet via a plurality ofhook and/or loop fastener patches 204 and 208 sewn to the interiorregions of the coat 200. The appendage wallets may also be fitted withmore than two hooks and loop patches to accommodate additionalengagement surfaces between the concealable wallet and complementaryhook and loop patches sewn to the coat 200. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention is not limited by the disclosure of the particularembodiments.

1. A concealable wallet engageable with a body appendage comprising: asubstantially flexible and rectangular material having a first fastenerlocated on a first surface of a first width end and a second fastenerlocated on a second surface of a second width end, the first surfaceopposite the second surface; and at least one compartment adjacent tothe first fastener, wherein the first fastener engages with the secondfastener to wrap the substantially rectangular material in a partialspiral around the body appendage.
 2. The concealable wallet of claim 1,wherein the first fastener includes a hook fastener.
 3. The concealablewallet of claim 1, wherein the second fastener includes a loop fastener.4. The concealable wallet of claim 1, wherein the at least onecompartment includes a slotted compartment.
 5. The concealable wallet ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one compartment includes a zipperedcompartment.
 6. The concealable wallet of claim 5, wherein the zippercompartment includes a vapor barrier interposed between the zippercompartment and the substantially flexible and rectangular material. 7.The concealable wallet of claim 6, wherein the substantially flexibleand rectangular material includes a flexible reinforcing materialaffixable with the first surface of the substantially flexible andrectangular material.
 8. The concealable wallet of claim 7, whereinflexible reinforcing material includes at least one hole.
 9. Theconcealable wallet of claim 8, wherein the substantially flexible andrectangular material and the flexible reinforcing material includes atleast one of leather, sheepskin, pliable plastic, and a composite of atleast one of leather, sheepskin, and pliable plastic.
 10. A concealablewallet engageable with a body appendage comprising: a substantiallyflexible and rectangular material having a first fastener located on afirst surface of a first width end and a second fastener located on asecond surface of a second width end, the first surface opposite thesecond surface; a flexible reinforcing material affixable with the firstsurface; at least one compartment adjacent to the first fastener, and anornament affixable with the second surface, wherein the first fastenerengages with the second fastener to wrap the substantially rectangularmaterial in a partial spiral around the body appendage with the at leastone compartment inwardly disposed within the partial spiral and theornament outwardly disposed. The concealable wallet of claim 1, whereinthe second fastener includes a loop fastener.
 11. The concealable walletof claim 10, wherein the first fastener includes a hook fastener. 12.The concealable wallet of claim 10, wherein the second fastener includesa loop fastener.
 13. The concealable wallet of claim 10, wherein the atleast one compartment includes a slotted compartment and a zipperedcompartment.
 14. The concealable wallet of claim 13, wherein the zippercompartment includes a vapor barrier interposed between the zippercompartment and the substantially flexible reinforcing material.
 15. Theconcealable wallet of claim 13, wherein flexible reinforcing materialincludes at least one hole.
 16. The concealable wallet of claim 13,wherein the at least one compartment includes at least one hole.
 17. Theconcealable wallet of claim 14, wherein the substantially flexible andrectangular material, the flexible reinforcing material, and the atleast one compartment includes leather.
 18. The concealable wallet ofclaim 10, wherein the ornament includes insignia, emblems, and religiousimages.
 19. The concealable wallet of claim 10, wherein the slottedcompartment is interposed between the reinforcing layer and the hookfastener.
 20. The concealable wallet of claim 10, wherein the slottedcompartment is interposed between the backing layer and the loopfastener
 21. The concealable wallet of claim 10 wherein the zipperedcompartment is sewn at least one of the exterior surface and theinterior surface.
 22. The concealable wallet of claim 10 wherein theslotted compartment is sewn to at least one of the exterior surface andthe interior surface.
 23. A coat configured to securely hold aconcealable wallet having first engagement patch comprising: a secondengagement patch secured to the inner region of the coat, wherein theconcealable wallet is detachably secured by contacting the secondengagement patch with the first engagement patch.
 24. The coat of claim23, wherein the second engagement patch is a hook patch.
 25. The coat ofclaim 23, wherein the second engagement patch is a loop patch.